Hide and Go-Seek The Household Toxins
“Cleansing is a process. I am patient and in amazement at my body’s ability to heal and rejuvenate.”
“The human body has been designed to resist an infinite number of changes and attacks brought about by its environment. The secret of good health lies in successful adjustment to changing stresses on the body.” – Harry J. Johnson, MD
Hidden toxins in your home can be one of the biggest stresses on divine bodies; and one that we can be totally unaware of. There is good news – by swapping out our items that carry a toxic load with less toxic or toxin-free items, we can reduce the impact on our bodies.
Kitchen
Most counter sprays and multi-purpose cleaners are laden with toxins. Often found in multi-purpose cleaners, Butoxyethanol is known to cause skin irritation and upon repeat exposure liver and kidney damage. The swap – dilute castile soap in water and add a few drops of tea tree oil for extra antibacterial strength.
Kitchen sponges that claim to be antimicrobial or odor-free contain triclosan. Triclosan is often used as a pesticide and has been linked to cancer, as well as, development issues in pregnancies. The Swap – a natural coconut fiber sponge or a Swedish cloth made with cellulose from plants.
How to make your own kitchen cleaner:
1 cup distilled white vinegar
1 cup water
3 drops tea tree oil
3 drops grapefruit essential oil
Add all ingredients into a 16 oz glass bottle, and shake well before use!
Branch Basics All purpose Concentrate
Coconut Scrub Pads 5 Pack- Coconut Coir/Natural Latex
Bedroom
Scented candles during our nightly ritual add to our sense of peace. Sadly, often our beloved candles can harm the bodies we are trying to nourish. Many scented candles contain VOCs, volatile organic compounds. These include; formaldehyde, phthalates, and alcohols. Exposure to VOCs has been linked to headaches, asthma, organ damage, disruption to our hormones. The Swap – try an unscented candle made of beeswax or soy wax. If you are really missing your scent, find a beeswax candle scented with high-quality, pure essential oils.
Cozying up under our favorite sheets might also be adding to our toxic load. Sheets can hold chemical residue – like phthalates. The residue can come from the plastics used for polyester, to make sheets flame retardant, or even remain from chemicals sprayed when growing cotton. The Swap – organic bamboo sheets are not only chemical-free but breathable. Bamboo is highly renewable, so there is minimal environmental impact!
Hive & Wick Market Beeswax Candle
ORGANIC Bamboo SHEETS
Bathroom
Conditioners can harbor harmful Quaternium-15. This preservative can cause skin irritation and allergic reactions. Look out for it sneaking into your hair products as guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride or benzethonium chloride. The Swap – Conditioner bars are a great swap for traditional conditioners, just be sure to double-check the ingredients!
From shaving cream to makeup, you will find Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), otherwise known as Teflon. You may have already ditched your non-stick pan because of Teflon, and now it is time to swap out your bathroom items. PTFE is a known carcinogen and has been linked to high blood pressure. The Swap – go ahead and use that conditioner bar on your legs for a smooth shave.
Plant-Based Conditioner Bars
These are just a few of the many ways you can swap out toxic everyday household items to more natural and sustainable options. There are so many other ways you can make the swap not mentioned, such as non-toxic paint, HEPPA Filters, natural laundry detergent, and even natural beeswax clothing if you really want to go for it!! We hope this post helped guide and inspire you to make small changes in the direction of less toxic living!
